The Door of Beauty

Yesterday we considered how consciously paying attention to Jesus’s presence opens the door of awareness and brings us into intimacy with him. One way to be more aware of Jesus is to open the door of beauty. Beauty in the world around us is a revelation of God himself. We do not worship the creation, but we revel in the reality of the Creator that is reflected in the creation’s beauty. When God looked at all he had created, he saw that “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31, NIV). The beauty of God’s creation should move us toward God.

There is beauty in the everyday things of life. Beauty is seen in the subtle colours of the clouds and the delicate flowers of the chickweed. It is displayed in the riot of colours stretched out in drying clothes on the line. Beauty is found in the fragrance of lilacs and lilies of the valley that grow outside the door. The music of a complicated orchestral piece or that of a songbird is full of beauty. These displays of beauty call us to expressions of thanksgiving and praise to God their creator.

Beauty is a gateway to worship and worship is the key that opens the door of our heart to intimacy with Jesus who is the creator of beauty. As we acknowledge beauty and worship and thank Jesus as the creator, we enter into communion and intimacy with him.

In Psalm 27:4 (NIV) the psalmist says, “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” The word translated as beauty literally means delightfulness. As we delight in the beauty of the Lord, in the creator’s handiwork, we can enter into the same room as Jesus and delight in the beauty of his presence.

Reflection

Think over the past few days. Where have you encountered beauty? Make a list of beauty seen, heard, smelled, or experienced. Prayerfully express your praise and thanksgiving to God the creator.